By: Ismael Kasooha
KAKUMIRO
The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja urged mothers to shun Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs)and give birth in health facilities.
“The government banned TBAs from attending to expectant mothers to fight maternal and infant mortality,” Nabbanja said recently at a meeting with leaders from Kyabasaija and Kibijjo sub-counties at her home in Kakumiro Town.
During the meeting, the Premier was informed that only 47% of mothers deliver babies in health facilities in Kakumiro District. The rest, according to the health officials, are helped deliver babies by TBAs.
“This practice must stop,” Nabbanja said. “The Government has established Health Centre IIIs in all sub counties so there is no reason why mothers should continue delivering babies in the hands of TBAs,” Nabbanja added.
She stated that TBAs are responsible for some of the maternal deaths as they are not trained to deliver babies.
The head of maternal and child health in Kakumiro district Asumpta Mbabazi urged leaders to encourage mothers to give birth in health facilities.
Mbabazi said that the number of active TBAs in the district is overwhelming. “I have so far recorded over 82 TBAs who are active in the district and the number could be higher,” she added. “These people are doing a disservice to us as a district because all our efforts are being wasted,”
The District Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Mawejje said they plan to take advantage of the Village Health Teams to encourage mothers to give birth in health facilities.
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